Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/517

Rh

The dice of Zeus have ever lucky throws.

Be pitiful, Ο Sun,

Whom the wise name as father of the Gods,

Author of all things.

Since we have rightly made our prayer to God,

Let us now go, Ο boys, to where the wise

Impart their knowledge of the Muses' arts.

Each day we need to take some forward step,

Till we gain power to study nobler things.

Evil a boy will learn without a guide,

With little labour, learning from himself;

But good, not even with his teacher near,

Dwells in his soul, but is full hardly gained:

Let us then, boys, be watchful, and work hard,

Lest we should seem with men untaught to rank,

The children of a father far from home.

The gratitude of one whose memory fails

Is quickly gone.